Jesus' Olivet Discourse: Matthew 24 and 25

By Roger Henri Trepanier

God is allowing His servant to have a few commentaries published, which are the product of over forty-three years of study and experience. It is my hope that the present one, “Jesus’ Olivet Discourse: Matthew 24 and 25” – which is expository in nature (that is, explained in detail) – will prove to be heartwarming and practical to help God’s people live in a way that is a personal blessing and which brings glory to God in these last days of the present age!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roger Henri Trepanier
• Release date: Sep 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215214503

Roger Henri Trepanier

Roger Henri Trepanier is an evangelist, author, and counselor, who has been serving God on his field of service since 1999. One hundred and nine books have been published so far in five different series, all available in print format and as an eBook for any type of eBook reader. He is a widower with three adopted children, all now married.The author's two websites have been closed. To access the author's books, please type, "Roger Henri Trepanier, books" in any search engine. All the author's books are available in print and ebook formats for all devices.

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The Word Of God Library

Jesus’ Olivet Discourse:

Matthew 24 and 25

Copyright 2023 by Roger Henri Trepanier

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2023 by Roger Henri Trepanier

All Rights Reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the author. An exception is granted reviewer who wishes to quote a brief passage or two as part of a public review of this book

Scripture taken from:

THE NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

This book is dedicated to President Donald John Trump, with whom the following is true:

Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.

Exodus 18:21

Contents

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER

Important background information to begin with!

MATTHEW CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Verses 1 to 51

MATTHEW CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Verses 1 to 46

ADDENDUM A

The four ages of time

ADDENDUM B

The two comings from Heaven to earth of God’s precious Son, our Lord Jesus Christ

ADDENDUM C

An exposition of Revelation 13

ADDENDUM D

An exposition of Daniel 9:24-27

ADDENDUM E

An exposition of Daniel 11:1-45

ADDENDUM F

An exposition of Daniel 12:1-13

ADDENDUM G

Chosen of God for a purpose!

ADDENDUM H

The reality of hell

ADDENDUM I

For those who may not as yet know God

The next book

End page

INTRODUCTION

The author has been doing a series of commentaries on the God’s prophetic word and one of the most important to consider is what God’s Son told His disciples at Matthew 24 and 25. The reason these two chapters are being considered together is based on the commentary that God leads Matthew to make at Matthew 26:1, where we read, When Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples,… The mention of, When Jesus had finished all these words is a reference to His discourse Matthew 24 and 25 that preceded this statement, which is often referred to as, Jesus’ Olivet Discourse. This therefore means that Matthew 24 and 25 needs to be looked at together, as we will now be doing in this book!

Another reason for looking at Matthew 24 and 25 in detail is due to the fact that the author has given a certain interpretation of portions of these two chapters in a number of books that have been published, and now God’s servant would like to confirm those interpretations by doing an exposition of these two chapters.

There are three things that one should be aware of at the outset. The first is that the Biblical text that God gave will be included as part of the text of this book, so that the reader will not have to turn to the Bible to read that text. It will appear in italics. Then secondly, each chapter has been broken into smaller sections, which will begin with an italicized brief explanation supplied as a help of what is covered in that section. And thirdly, at times comments are supplied by the author, which will be in brackets in the text of God’s word, as an additional help to the reader.

Then we are to also note that there is an Addenda at the back of the book with nine sections. At Addendum A, there is a brief outline of the four ages of time, for any reading the book who might not be familiar with this information. At Addendum B, we have the two comings from Heaven to earth of God’s Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, in time. Then at Addendum C, we have an exposition of Revelation 13 and then at Addendum D an exposition of Daniel 9:24-27. Then at Addendum E we have an exposition of Daniel 11 and then an exposition of Daniel 12 at Addendum F. At Addendum G, we have, Chosen of God for a purpose, and then at Addendum H, we have The reality of hell. And then the last Addendum is Addendum I, where we have a presentation of the gospel, which is the good news that God has given in His word regarding His Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, for any reader who might not as yet have this vital personal relationship with God, through faith in His Son!

What should also be mentioned before closing this Introduction, because we are all somewhat curious by nature, is that after completing 21 years of formal education and then spending almost 28 years working in Project Engineering and Management in the Corporate offices of two large utilities, God called His servant as a non-denominational evangelist in early 1999, and then sent him out over two thousand miles, away from family and friends, to the place of service God assigned, which is where His servant has been, and is still serving Him, as evangelist, author, and counselor. The author is a widower with three adopted children, all now married with a family of their own.

This book, and all the author’s books, are available for purchase in print format or as an eBook on all major distribution channels. Since the author’s two websites are no longer active, one may access the books, and places to purchase, by typing Roger Henri Trepanier, books in any search engine.

And now my prayer is that God will richly bless you as you read this book, and greatly minister to every need in your life, as only God can! To Him be all praise, honor, and glory, with thanksgiving, both now and forevermore! Amen.

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER

Important background information to begin with!

What would prove useful to begin with is for us to note four important points of information as background regarding Matthew’s gospel account, which will help us better understand Matthew 24 and 25.

1) There are four ages of time and Matthew’s gospel account falls in the second age of time!

The first important point of information is that Matthew’s gospel account, as with Mark, Luke, and John, including Acts 1, are part of the second age of time, which begins at Genesis 12:1 and goes to the end of Acts 1, where God deals with the nations of earth through the believers of the nation of Israel. In other words, during the second age of time, the nation of Israel is but a representative nation of all the nations of the earth. The reader is encouraged to read Addendum A at the back of the book at this point, before resuming here.

2) There are two separate comings of God’s Son to earth!

Then a second point of information to grasp and remember is that there are two separate comings from Heaven to earth of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in time, and these two comings need to be clearly kept in mind when reading God’s word, including Matthew’s gospel account. And again, what would be helpful at this point is for the reader to take a moment and read Addendum B at the back of the book, before resuming here.

3) Some basic information regarding the word kingdom

The third point of information to grasp and remember here is that God ever has ONLY ONE KINGDOM through the four ages of time and on into eternity to come, with that Kingdom having been termed the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God, which God starts using only in the New Testament. And please note that these two terms, while referring to the one Kingdom of God, are nevertheless NOT referring to the same thing, but rather to separate aspects of God’s one kingdom! This is important to remember!

Basically, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS GOD’S RULE OVER ALL THE NATIONS OF EARTH THROUGH HIS SON AS KING, WHILE HE IS ON EARTH! The Kingdom of Heaven will not be established on earth until the fourth age of time, although announced and presented to THE NATION OF ISRAEL, as we see in Matthew’s gospel account! And then THE KINGDOM OF GOD REFERS TO GOD’S RULE OVER ALL NATIONS ON EARTH THROUGH HIS SON AS KING IN HEAVEN!

What this means then is that whenever we encounter the terms Kingdom of Heaven and Kingdom of God in the New Testament, God is making reference to the above. And when we encounter a reference to the word kingdom by itself in the New Testament, we need to determine from the context whether the Kingdom of Heaven is in view or whether the Kingdom of God is in view, and then interpret accordingly.

It is also important to keep in mind that God’s one kingdom in time is only ever entered into through salvation, which is through faith in God’s Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, whereby one receives the forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God!

It is important to also ever keep in mind that the nation of Israel is only ever a REPRESENTATIVE NATION IN GOD’S PURPOSES IN TIME. What this means is that when the nation of Israel finally accepts God’s Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, as her King, at the start of the fourth age of time, it will mean that all nations of earth willingly also accept Him as their King, thereby making His rule a universal rule!

What is very important to keep in mind is that God’s one Kingdom also existed in the two ages within the Old Testament also, for God’s one Kingdom came into existence the moment that God created and brought into existence the original creation, as we see at Genesis 1:1. For then God had subjects to rule over, namely angelic and human beings, which meant He now had a kingdom. God installed His Son as King in Heaven over that one kingdom at the time of that original creation, as He clearly declares at Psalm 2:6, with notes added as a help, But as for Me (God The Father), I have installed My (Son as) King upon Zion, My holy mountain, here in reference to God’s holy city, Jerusalem, which we later see at Revelation 21:10 come from Heaven to earth at the beginning of the fourth age of time.

And so, while the word kingdom only occurs once in the first age of time, which is in reference to the kingdoms of unbelievers on earth, nevertheless, as human beings came to faith in God’s coming Son, as promised at Genesis 3:15 and as prefigured in the animal sacrifices and offerings, they became part of God’s one kingdom in that first age of time!

Then when God started the second age of time by establishing the nation of Israel as a believing nation on earth, meaning that its leadership were believers, then that meant that God was getting the earth ready for the establishment of His Son as King over His own Kingdom on earth, by ruling on earth through the believing kings of the nation of Israel. God did not use the terms Kingdom of Heaven or Kingdom of God in the first two ages of time, even though, as we have just seen, although His one kingdom did exist.

It is only as God’s Son came from Heaven to earth at His first coming near the end of the second age of time that we see God start to use the terms Kingdom of Heaven and Kingdom of God, in relation to His one Kingdom, as is clear from Matthew’s gospel account.

Then in the third age of time, which is at the present time we are living in, God only has the Kingdom of God in view, and never the Kingdom of Heaven, due to the fact that His Son returned to Heaven again in the ascension at Acts 1:9-11, while the nation of Israel is being viewed by God as part of the nations of the earth, and not as a representative nation during the present third age.

And then in the fourth age of time, after God’s Son will have come from Heaven to earth in the second stage of His second coming to deal with all of God’s enemies, as we see at Matthew 25 and Revelation 19:11-21, which occurs after the end of the seven years left of the second age of time, God then establishes His one kingdom in His Son as King, The Lord Jesus Christ, namely the Kingdom of Heaven, with His Son then ruling all the nations of the earth, including the nation of Israel, doing so from that holy city, Jerusalem, which comes down to just above the earth at the start the fourth age of time, as we see at Revelation 21:10!

Then after the fourth age of time has run its course, which will last for 1000 years (noting Revelation 20:2,4,6,7), God’s Son will hand that one Kingdom to God His Father, as we see at 1 Corinthians 15:24-28, with God’s one Kingdom then being known as the Father’s Kingdom (noting Matthew 26:28), which will then be the case for all eternity to come!

4) Looking at some passages of God’s word to solidify our thinking regarding the use of Kingdom of Heaven and Kingdom of God

What would prove useful at this point is to look at some passages of God’s word to solidify in our minds regarding what has been said so far regarding God’s Kingdom in time:

a) Matthew 3:2; 4:17

First then, we need to look at when John the Baptist was led of God to say at Matthew 3:2, and later God’s precious Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, also said at Matthew 4:17, Repent, for the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is at hand, where they were both CALLING THE NATION OF ISRAEL TO REPENTANCE THROUGH ITS LEADERSHIP, a call that is not repeated in the other three gospel accounts of Mark, Luke, and John.

What this therefore means is that in Matthew, God’s Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, had now been born King of the Jews (noting Matthew 2:2) and was now on the earth in Israel, which was why the Kingdom of Heaven was now at hand, meaning that The King was now on earth for it to be established. If it be asked here: How would the people of Israel have understood what John the Baptist and God’s Son were saying to them here?, then the answer is that at least the leadership, and hopefully those who were believers in Israel, even though just a small number, would have been aware of all that had been prophesied in The Old Testament regarding God’s prophesied Messianic Kingdom over Israel, and would now be anticipating God to be re-establishing His direct rule over the nation of Israel, which was in place before its exile to Babylon in 586 BC.

However, what also needs to be kept in mind here is that the nation of Israel had been exiled to Babylon due to the unbelief of its leadership, which represented the nation, and even though God had a believing remnant restored to the land of Israel 70 years later, nevertheless, at the time of The Lord Jesus Christ’s first coming from Heaven to earth the nation of Israel was still in unbelief, as seen through its leadership, as is clear throughout Matthew’s gospel account.

Therefore, what is critical to our understanding here is seeing that God will not establish the Kingdom of Heaven until the nation of Israel repents, through its leadership, and by faith receives God’s precious Son, The Lord Jesus, as her Messiah (Christ) and King!

And what is further critical for us to understand from Daniel 9:24-27 is that it had been prophesied by God through the prophet that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. Then… Messiah will be cut off and have nothing…, which means that God knew that when His Son came to earth in human flesh at His first coming from Heaven to earth, as is the case in Matthew’s gospel account, THE NATION OF ISRAEL WOULD REJECT HIM!

And what this therefore further means is that the Kingdom of Heaven in view in Matthew would not be established on earth until the return to earth again of God’s Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, an event which will not occur until after the end of the seven years yet remaining of the second age of time, as we see at Revelation 19:11-16, after which the nation of Israel will also be restored to the land of Israel and will at that time turn from her unbelief and will receive God’s Son, Jesus, as her Messiah (Christ) and King, which is an event that occurs at the beginning of the fourth age of time. Therefore, it is only at the beginning of the fourth age of time that the Kingdom of Heaven mentioned in Matthew’s gospel account will be established on earth by God’s Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, as also prophesied at Daniel 2:44.

And the reason God even announced the kingdom of Heaven at all to the nation of Israel, even though He knew in advance that the nation would reject His Son, must be seen in the larger context of God’s desire to provide for man’s redemption through His precious Son. Therefore, we need to see that God allowed His Son to come to earth in human flesh and be presented to the nation of Israel, which He knew was still in unbelief and therefore would reject Him, and in rejecting Him they would fulfill God’s purpose through His Son by putting Him to death. And so, God uses that particular generation of the nation of Israel in unbelief as part of His plan for the redemption of mankind by allowing them to hand over His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to the Romans, so they could put Him to death by crucifying Him to a cross, thereby becoming the basis for mankind’s redemption, noting Acts 2:22-24.

Therefore, just as Pharaoh was used of God at the time of Moses, even though God knew he had and would continue to reject God, so also likewise for the generation of the nation of Israel that would reject His Son, that is, the majority of this particular generation, and especially the leadership (noting Matthew 12:38-45; 16:1-4; 17:17; 23:35; Mark 8:38; Luke 11:29-32,49-51; 17:22-25).

b) The Lord Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5 to 7

We further note that at Matthew 5 to 7, God’s Son was led of His Father to give a sermon to His disciples, in the hearing of the nation of Israel, which clearly shows that the Kingdom of Heaven He was there speaking of definitely was different from what the kingdom over Israel was like when in place under the kings before the exile to Babylon. What needs to be realized here is that with the coming of God’s Son to earth, and through His death, burial, and resurrection from the dead on behalf of sinful mankind, HE WOULD BE MEDIATOR OF A NEW COVENANT IN HIS BLOOD, which had also been prophesied as coming at Jeremiah 31:31-34 (also noting Hebrews 8:6-13). And therefore Matthew 5-7 must be seen in the context of God’s new covenant, which is in turn relating to the Kingdom of Heaven, which will not take place until the fourth age of time.

c) The mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, Matthew 13:11

We also need to note that the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven at Matthew 13:11 relates to the Kingdom which God’s Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, will establish on earth to begin the fourth age, and does not apply to the present third age. On the other hand, the mystery of the Kingdom of God at Mark 4:11 and the mysteries of the Kingdom of God at Luke 8:10 relate only to the Kingdom in relation to the present third age.

d) Matthew 19:16-26

We then need to note Matthew 19:16-26, where we read, [19] And someone came to Him and said, Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life? [17] And He said to him, Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments. [18] Then he said to Him, Which ones? And Jesus said, You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; [19] Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself. [20] The young man said to Him, All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking? [21] Jesus said to him, If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. [22] But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. [23] And Jesus said to His disciples, Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. [24] Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter THE KINGDOM OF GOD. [25] When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, Then who can be saved? [26] And looking at them Jesus said to them, With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

The portion of this passage that concerns us here is verses 19:23-26, with what comes before this being for context. And so, we see a man, who owned much property – in other words, who was rich in things of this world – come to The Lord Jesus wanting to know what he was to do to obtain eternal life. Since salvation is by faith in God’s Son alone (John 3:16), and not through one’s good works (Ephesians 2:8-10), then we see at verse 22 that the young man walked away, as he was not willing to sell all he had in order to come to The Lord Jesus and follow Him as a disciple, as all those who were now following Him as disciples had done already.

And this is where The Lord Jesus says what He does at verse 23 and 24 regarding the fact that it is hard for a rich man to enter either the Kingdom of Heaven, or the Kingdom of God when it is in place, since both require salvation through faith in God’s Son to enter! That salvation is indeed in view here is clear from verses 25 and 26, where The Lord Jesus points out that it is impossible for any human being to be saved on one’s own, as this is wholly a work of God! Had the young man been willing to sell all He had to follow The Lord Jesus he would have come to believe in Him as truly being The Son of God in human flesh, and would have obtained that eternal life that he was seeking!

e) Mark 1:14,15

Another important passage to note is what we read at Mark 1:14,15, [14] Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, [15] and saying, The time is fulfilled, and THE KINGDOM OF GOD is at hand; repent and believe in the